Explores the relationship between school business officials' perceived job satisfaction and specific categories of job variables (demographics, rewards, functions, and interpersonal relationships). Results show that school business officials are a conventional group dominated by well-paid White males content with their work and committed to their…

Advises beginning school financial officers to know their own limits and capabilities; review district records, prior years' audit reports, financial statements, and budget documents; examine board of education policy; establish a calendar of events; keep their staff informed; and develop information contacts. They should also pursue continuing…

Lists salaries and fringe benefits paid to school business officials and other administrators based on data from approximately 1,000 local school systems that comprise a stratified sample of large, medium, small, and very small school systems. Chief business officials' salaries are generally related to three variables: region of the country;…

As educators battle restricted budgets, inflation, and enrollment changes, strategic sourcing management is replacing traditional transaction-based procurement. Procurement-card programs, allowing organizations to use credit cards for small purchases or low-value items, save time and enhance controls over merchants, credit limits, issuance limits,…

The top five security risks in today's schools include aggressive behavior, weapons possession or use, drug trafficking, gangs, and "stranger danger." Home-made bomb threats are common. This article also discusses security system costs, risk-reduction frameworks, security assessments, crisis-preparedness guidelines, and security-related…

Contends e-business is particularly the domain of college and university business officers, with today's officers facing an unprecedented opportunity to exercise a critical leadership role in the deployment of advanced information technology solutions on campus. Describes relevant issues and advances, and presents ten initiatives that business…

The techno-revolution is arriving in school business officials' domain. This article discusses four major effects of technology on budgeting and financial management of schools: enhanced strategic planning and mission building, budget standards without standardized spending, movement from system to student, and integration of multiple reporting…

Offers guidelines to college business officers concerning investments in real estate and the unrelated business income tax (UBIT), which requires tax-exempt organizations to pay federal and state taxes on income earned from a trade or business unrelated to their tax-exempt purpose. Considers real estate investment funds, exposure to UBIT, avoiding…

With outsourcing, colleges can focus on their primary mission rather than on managing an auxiliary service that may compete with private sector alternatives. Discusses when an institution should outsource; what businesses can bring to educational communities; the role of business officers in outsourcing; how to ensure successful outsourcing; why…

An effective internal-control system can help school business administrators meet the challenges of accounting for student activity funds. Such a system should include appropriate policies and procedures, identification of key control points, self-assessments, audit trails, and internal and external audits. (MLH)

To assist college business officers in developing a distance education approach, addresses four questions: (1) Why pay attention to distance education? (2) How might distance education be structured at your institution? (3) What role should you play in distance education? (4) What risk do you take by not becoming involved? (EV)

A significant planning component is establishing a budget forecast for the upcoming year and at least the year following. Bringing a projected budgetary profile to the community and school board early on provides opportunities for discussing certain assumptions, initiatives, and goals that may need examination by district administrators. (MLH)

This chapter of "Principles of School Business Management" presents an overview of risk management for school districts. The chapter first discusses four fundamental elements of risk management: (1) identifying and measuring risks; (2) reducing or eliminating risks; (3) transferring unassumable risks; and (4) assuming remaining risks.…

Due process in employment practices is guaranteed to school employees to the extent that they have constitutionally protected liberty and property interests in their employment. This paper reviews the responsibilities of school business officials at every stage in the employment process, from the original application for employment through…

Increasingly, schools compete in an environment of limited resources. Sound public relations practices could serve as a vehicle to explain how the public's tax dollars are managed. This annotated bibliography focuses on public relations in schools with a special emphasis on the school business function. Over the last 5 years, seven journals were…